0: 
o : 
1  ] 

o ; 

3 

1 

5 
1 
7 


GREENE 
Ministerial  Fidelity  Exemplified 


1  ! 


BX 
7260 
C798 
G7 


SERMON 


AT   THE    FUNERAL   OF 


THE    REV.   DANIEL   CROSBY 


^  JWnfsterfal  jFftrtlftB 


SERMON 


AT   THE    FUNERAL   OF 


THE    REV.    DANIEL    CROSBY, 


LATE   PASTOR   OF 


THE   W1NTHROP  CHURCH,  CH  ARLE  STO  VVN, 


MARCH  3,  1843. 


BY 

DAVID    GREENE. 


BOSTON: 

T.  R.  MARVIN,  24  CONGRESS  STREET. 
1843. 


NOTE. 

THE  death  of  Mr.  Crosby  occurred  in  Charlestown,  on  the  28th 
of  February.  The  following  Sermon  was  preached  at  the  request 
of  the  Winthrop  Church,  in  their  house  of  worship,  on  occasion  of 
the  funeral ;  and,  in  conformity  with  a  request  from  the  same  source, 
it  is  now  printed.  Written  hastily  at  first,  as  the  circumstances  ren- 
dered unavoidable,  it  has  been  revised  with  some  care,  though  not 
essentially  enlarged  or  altered,  with  the  hope  of  making  it  give  a  less 
incorrect  and  inadequate  view,  than  it  originally  did,  of  the  character, 
labors,  and  influence  of  the  deceased.  The  freedom  which  charac- 
terizes the  remarks  respecting  Mr.  Crosby  will  not  appear  unseemly, 
if  it  is  borne  in  mind  that  they  come  from  one  who  was  associated 
with  him  in  his  collegiate  and  theological  education,  and  who  for 
nearly  twenty  years,  and  especially  during  the  last  ten,  was  favored 
with  his  intimate  and  confidential  friendship. 

MISSIONARY  HOUSE,  BOSTON,  > 
10  MARCH,  1843.  C 


SERMON. 


JOHN  xvn.  4. 
I  HAVE  FINISHED  THE  WORK  WHICH  THOU  GAYEST  ME  TO  DO. 

THUS  Christ  speaks  relative  to  the  specific  work 
which  he  was  commissioned  to  perform  in  his  state 
of  humiliation.  What  might  appropriately  be  de- 
nominated his  WORK  on  earth  was  finished  before 
his  parting  interview  with  the  twelve,  a  few  hours 
previous  to  his  arrest  and  crucifixion.  The  toil 
which  preceded  his  public  ministry,  and  the  scene 
of  fasting  and  temptation  which  introduced  him  to 
it,  were  ended.  His  travels  on  errands  of  mercy 
over  the  hills  and  valleys  of  Judea  and  Galilee, 
were  past.  He  had  no  more  discussions  to  hold 
with  the  ignorant  and  erring,  and  no  more  rebukes 
to  administer  to  the  caviller  and  blasphemer.  The 
inquirer  and  the  disconsolate  would  no  more  come 
to  him  for  counsel  and  comfort.  He  had  no  more 
miracles  to  work ;  the  voice  of  the  dumb,  the  hear- 
ing of  the  deaf,  the  sight  of  the  blind,  the  restored 
reason  of  the  lunatic,  the  renewed  vigor  of  the 
paralytic,  the  returning  health  to  the  sick  and  life  to 


4 

the  dead,  and  the  submission  of  stormy  winds  and 
even  of  devils  to  his  word,  had  given  ample  testi- 
mony that  he  came  from  God,  and  they  would  be 
repeated  no  more.  His  seasons  of  solitary  prayer 
and  communion  with  the  Father  were  over.  He 
would  have  no  more  of  those  endearing  interviews 
with  his  disciples,  by  which  he  had  been  training 
them  for  their  future  ministry.  The  light  of  his 
example,  and  the  balmy  influences  of  his  spirit,  so 
gentle  and  benevolent,  were  no  more  to  pervade 
the  companies  which  followed  him,  or  listened 
to  the  gracious  words  which  proceeded  out  of  his 
mouth. 

How  perfectly  were  the  few  years  of  our  Sa- 
viour's ministry  filled  up  !  Whether  alone,  or  with 
his  disciples,  or  with  the  multitude — whether  jour- 
neying, or  at  rest — whether  on  the  sea,  or  on  the 
land,  how  constantly  was  he  saying  or  doing  some- 
thing which  had  its  influence  then,  which  is  having 
an  influence  now,  and  whose  influence  shall  last  till 
all  the  redeemed  shall  be  gathered  in.  No  time 
was  lost — no  duty  was  omitted. 

I   HAVE  FINISHED  THE  WORK  WHICH  THOU  GAVEST 

ME  TO  DO.  All  was  done  which  the  counsels  of  the 
Godhead  required  ;  all  which  the  law  required  ;  all 
which  the  redemption  of  a  fallen  world  required ; 
all  which  the  introduction  of  the  new  dispensation, 
and  the  future  instruction  and  perfection  of  his 
people  required.  All  the  WORK  was  finished.  The 
suffering  scene  alone  remained  ;  and  as  he  hung 
expiring  on  the  cross,  when  the  hour  of  agony 


which  completed  the  atonement  was  ending,  he 
cried,  *  It  is  finished  !  '  and  gave  up  the  ghost. 

What  would  not  any  considerate  man  give  to  be 
able,  when  life  shall  be  closing,  to  look  up  to  God  in 
humble  sincerity,  and  with  the  testimony  of  a  good 
conscience,  say  respecting-  himself,  '  I  have  finished 
the  work  which  thou  gavest  me  to  do  ! ' 

To  be  able  to  say  this  honestly  and  intelligently, 
is  the  great  preparation  for  death.  Every  follower 
of  Christ,  and  especially  every  gospel  minister, 
ought  so  to  live  and  labor,  in  imitation  of  his  divine 
Master  and  Pattern,  that  he  can  make  this  language 
his  own.  Such  should  be  his  distinct  aim  as  he 
enters  the  ministry ;  and  by  never  suffering  himself 
to  be  in  arrears  in  respect  to  duty,  but  by  diligence 
and  punctuality,  determining  that  every  departing 
year  and  every  closing  day  shall  see  its  appropriate 
work  completed,  he  should,  keep  this  in  his  eye,  as 
the  measure  of  his  attainment,  till  years  and  days 
of  labor  shall  be  past,  and  he  can  stand,  when  God 
shall  call  him  away  from  earth,  and  say,  through 
grace,  full  of  satisfaction  and  peace,  '  I  have  finished 
the  work  which  thou  gavest  me  to  do.' 

We  must  not  compare  the  servant  with  his  Lord. 
Nor,  since  each  of  the  servants  must  say,  '  By  the 
grace  of  God  I  am  what  I  am,'  should  we  invidi- 
ously compare  them  one  with  another ;  but  it  may 
be  said,  and  all  who  knew  him  intimately  will  re- 
spond to  its  truth,  that  few  of  Christ's  servants,,  at 
the  close  of  life,  could  more  appropriately  employ 


the  words  of  the  text,  than  our  brother,  whose  re- 
moval from  the  toils  of  earth  to  the  rest  of  heaven, 
has  called  together  this  mourning  assembly.  Few 
have  labored  more  diligently  and  faithfully ;  and 
few  have  left  undone  less  that  it  was  incumbent  on 
them  to  do. 

As  my  remarks  in  illustration  of  this  will  be 
confined  almost  exclusively  to  the  public  ministry  of 
our  departed  brother,  they  can  be  expected  to  em- 
brace little  that  will  be  new  to  those  whom  I  ad- 
dress ;  most  of  whom,  from  having  either  enjoyed 
his  pastoral  care  and  instruction,  or  taken  part  with 
him  in  the  same  ministry,  well  know  and  appreciate 
his  character  and  labors. 

But  to  review  the  course  of  a  man,  who,  not 
distinguished  by  graces  of  person  or  manner — with 
no  uncommon  powers  for  acquiring  or  retaining 
knowledge — with  no  fascinations  of  elocution,  or 
style,  or  fancy — with  the  practice  of  no  art  or 
policy,  accomplished  so  much  in  a  short  life,  and 
accomplished  it  so  well ; — who  so  universally  se- 
cured the  love  and  respect  of  those  who  knew  him, 
and  actually  exerted  so  great  and  salutary  an  in- 
fluence in  his  appropriate  sphere, — may  afford  us 
interesting  and  useful  lessons.  Let  us,  then,  before 
we  convey  away  out  of  our  sight,  that  body  which 
we  have  so  often  looked  upon,  but  which,  after  this 
day,  we  shall  see  no  more,  attempt  to  group  to- 
gether and  impress  on  our  minds  some  of  those 
elements  of  excellence  and  power,  which  entered 


into  the  character  and  were  manifested  in  the  labors 
of  our  brother,  and  which  we  hope  never  to  forget. 

1.  One  of  these  was  the  thorough  spiritual  pre- 
paration which  he  had  for  his  work.  He  began  the 
work  of  the  ministry  aright — with  a  thorough  conver- 
sion and  a  hearty  and  intelligent  dedication  of  him- 
self to  God.  Though  of  pious  parentage  and  having 
had  the  advantages  of  early  religious  training,  when 
he  entered  Yale  College,  New  Haven,  in  the  autumn 
of  1819,  it  was  with  a  mind  little  impressed  with 
religious  subjects  and  almost  exclusively  devoted  to 
his  studies.  But  before  his  first  year  expired  a 
revival  commenced  in  the  college  and  city,  which 
has  hardly  had  a  parallel  in  the  annals  of  that  highly 
favored  place.  For  some  time  Mr.  Crosby  stood 
aloof  and  was  unaffected.  But  by  and  by  the 
Spirit  of  God  turned  his  thoughts  in  upon  his  own 
heart,  opened  gradually,  one  after  another,  the 
chambers  of  imagery  there,  showing  him  one  abomi- 
nation after  another,  holding  all  the  while  clearly 
before  him  the  divine  law,  and  uttering  in  his  ear  in 
steady  and  awful  tones  its  dreadful  denunciations. 
The  world  soon  grew  dark  to  him ;  the  ambition  of 
the  scholar  forsook  him  ;  and  with  bowed  head,  and 
pale  and  saddened  face,  and  hurried  step  you  might 
see  him  traversing  the  streets  or  the  fields,  with  the 
language  of  Paul  almost  written  on  his  forehead, 
'  Oh  wretched  man  that  I  am ;  who  shall  deliver 
me  from  the  body  of  this  death  ! ' 

Many  months  elapsed  while  he  was  thus  drinking 


8 

of  the  wormwood  and  the  gall,  and  the  Holy  Spirit 
was  carrying  him  lower  and  lower  into  the  depths 
of  his  own  heart,  showing  him,  past  all  controversy 
or  question,  that  it  was  enmity  against  God ;  that 
it  was  deceitful  above  all  things  and  desperately 
wicked  ;  and  that  while  the  law  was  holy,  he  was 
carnal,  sold  under  sin.  When  thus  the  whole 
structure  of  his  self-righteousness  had  been,  stone 
after  stone,  taken  down  before  his  eyes,  and  its 
very  foundations  razed,  he  was  enabled  to  say, 
'  Out  of  the  depths  have  I  cried  unto  thee,  O  Lord. 
If  thou,  Lord,  shouldest  mark  iniquities,  O  Lord, 
who  shall  stand  ?  But  there  is  forgiveness  with 
thee  that  thou  mayest  be  feared.  I  wait  for  the 
Lord,  my  soul  doth  wait,  and  in  his  word  do  I 
hope.' 

When  he  had  been  thus  taught  why  he  needed  a 
Saviour,  and  what  sort  of  a  Saviour  he  must  have, 
Christ  and  the  plan  of  salvation  were  presented  to 
his  mind  with  no  less  clearness  than  his  own  sin 
and  ruin  had  previously  been.  But  though  his 
opposition  to  the  law  and  his  self-righteousness 
were  gone  ;  and  though  the  character,  the  fitness, 
and  the  wonderful  mercy  of  the  atonement  were 
clearly  discerned  ;  and  though  he  would  have  short 
periods  of  admiration  and  joy,  as  his  thoughts 
fastened  upon  Christ,  yet  from  the  picture  drawn 
before  him  of  his  own  heart  he  could  not  sufficiently 
turn  his  eye — he  was  not  at  a  sufficient  remove 
from  the  pit  of  destruction — he  was  not  sure  enough 
that  his  feet  were  planted  on  the  Rock, — to  permit 


him  to  make  Christian  peace  and  joy  permanent 
inmates  of  his  bosom.  He  stood  there,  between 
Sinai  and  Calvary,  now  hearing  the  thunders,  and 
now  looking  at  the  cross ;  now  his  convictions  and 
heart-breakings  prevailing,  and  now  crying  out, 
1  Oh  the  depth  of  the  riches,  both  of  the  wisdom 
and  knowledge  of  God !  how  unsearchable  are  his 
judgments  and  his  ways  past  finding  out ! ' 

But  on  these  scenes  we  must  not  dwell  longer. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  this  state  of  mind — this  keeping 
one  eye  on  the  law  and  the  other  on  the  cross — this 
fluctuation  between  painful  conviction  on  the  one 

*  As  an  illustration,  characteristic  of  Mr.  Crosby,  and  especially  of 
his  state  of  mind  at  this  time,  it  may  be  mentioned,  that,  during  these 
days  of  darkness,  while  he  appeared  and  was  thought  by  all  to  be  the 
very  picture  of  disconsolateness,  if  not  of  despair,  he  accosted  a 
fellow  student,  in  the  college  yard,  whose  appearance  and  state  of 
mind  were  not  very  unlike  his  own.  "  What,"  thought  his  fellow, 
"  can  that  heart-broken,  despairing  man  have  to  say  to  me  ?  Surely 
he  can  have  no  comfort  to  impart."  Mr.  Crosby  addressed  him,  and 
with  a  countenance  where  joy  was  conflicting  with  sadness,  as  the 
rays  of  the  setting  sun  sometimes  struggle  from  beneath  a  gloomy 
cloud,  told  him  not  to  despond ;  to  remember  that  there  is  a  Saviour, 
even  for  the  chief  of  sinners ;  and  affectionately  and  earnestly  plead 
with  him  to  believe  on  Christ. 

In  adverting  to  those  days  he  has  repeatedly  remarked  that,  occa- 
sionally, while  walking  abroad  or  sitting  at  his  study  window,  the 
cloud  would  break  away  from  his  mind,  and  he  would  contemplate 
the  character  and  works  of  God,  and  the  great  things  of  the  law 
and  the  gospel,  for  hours,  with  unutterable  satisfaction  and  joy.  In 
these  intervals  he  would  hardly  think  of  himself,  whether  he  had 
been  born  again  or  not — whether  he  was  to  be  saved  or  lost.  The 
whole  mind  was  absorbed  in  these  views  of  God  and  his  kingdom. 
Soon,  however,  his  thoughts  would  revert  to  himself,  the  cloud  would 
close  down  upon  him,  and  all  would  be  as  dark  and  comfortless  as 
before.  Still  at  these  times  he  loved  prayer  and  was  much  occupied 
in  it. 


10 

hand,  and  the  Christian  hope  on  the  other,  con- 
tinued to  the  close  of  his  college  life,  and  perhaps  it 
may  be  said,  through  his  preparatory  theological 
course, — his  faith  and  hope  steadily  growing  strong- 
er, and  affording  him  a  more  abiding  peace  and  joy; 
while  he  was  girding  on  the  Christian  armor,  and 
learning  how  to  ward  off  the  fiery  darts  of  the 
adversary,  and  where  to  find  relief  from  the  accusings 
of  a  guilty  conscience  and  the  condemnation  of  the 
law. 

This  scene  through  which  Mr.  Crosby  passed 
had  a  forming  influence  on  his  religious  character. 
He  who  feels  that  to  him  much  has  been  forgiven, 
will  love  much.  And  it  had  no  less  influence  on  his 
labors.  Feeling  that  he  had  been  bought  with  a 
PRICE,  he  would  glorify  God  with  his  body  and 
spirit,  which  were  God's.  KNOWING  the  terrors  of 
the  Lord,  he  would  persuade  men.  It  wras  in  these 
solitary  walks — in  these  closet  self-examinations, 
where  the  Spirit  of  God  brought  the  divine  law  and 
his  own  heart  in  review  together,  and  then  unfolded 
before  him  the  gospel  remedy ; — it  was  in  this  intel- 
ligent, heart-breaking  conviction  for  sin — his  own 
sin — clearly  seen  and  felt  and  hated ; — it  was  in  the 
view  which  he  then  got  of  his  own  personal  need  of 
Christ — in  his  appropriating  Christ  to  himself  to 
meet  his  own  wants  as  he  felt  them — it  was  by  the 
operations  of  his  own  mind  under  the  influence  of 
these  things,  and  the  results  to  which  he  came,  that 
Mr.  Crosby  was  prepared  to  preach  the  gospel 
experimentally,  as  well  as  scripturally.  When  he 


11 

presented  in  his  preaching  the  character  or  the  law 
of  God,  the  provisions  of  the  gospel,  the  precepts, 
promises,  or  threatenings  of  the  Bible,  he  presented 
what  he  had  seen  and  felt,  and  into  conformity 
with  which  he  was  honestly  endeavoring  to  bring  his 
own  heart  and  life.  His  own  Christian  experience 
under  the  power  of  the  truth  was  his  guide  and 
means  of  adaptation,  and  was  one  source  of  the 
strength,  pathos,  and  effectiveness  of  his  public  and 
private  instructions. 

When  Mr.  Crosby  joined  the  church,  which  he 
did  in  the  latter  part  of  his  second  year  in  college, 
he  did  it  deliberately,  knowing  what  it  meant;  after 
such  a  trial  of  his  character  as  made  him  hope,  with 
God's  assistance,  to  conform  to  his  professions :  and 
though  often  disheartened  and  almost  overwhelmed, 
for  long  periods  together,  with  views  of  his  sins  and 
weaknesses,  temptations  and  falls,  he  seldom,  if 
ever,  from  this  time  gave  up  his  hope.  He  had 
seen  too  much  to  admit  of  this :  he  was  sure  that  he 
had  built  on  the  right  foundation,  and  that  he  could 
not  be  mistaken :  and  during  the  protracted  seasons 
of  depression  to  which  he  was  subject,  up  to  the 
time  of  his  entering  the  ministry,  when  an  observer 
would  expect  nothing  from  him  but  the  language  of 
despair,  the  friend,  whom  he  admitted  to  the 
recesses  of  his  bosom,  would  find  that  his  hope  in 
Christ  was  scarcely  shaken. 

He  entered  the  ministry  knowing  what  a  work 
he  was  undertaking.  It  was  to  unfold  a  law  which 
had  convicted  and  slain  himself — to  proclaim  an 


12 

atoning  Saviour  whom  his  faith  apprehended — to 
introduce  others  to  a  race  of  Christian  holiness  and 
effort  in  which  he  was  himself  struggling — and  to 
conduct  them  to  a  heaven  where  he  looked  for  his 
own  reward.  His  preaching  was,  therefore,  the 
preaching  of  experience.  And  who  would  wish  to 
be  a  Christian  preacher,  without  a  Christian  expe- 
rience ?  Who  could  bear,  in  his  study  and  in  the 
pulpit,  to  be  continually  pondering  statute  books, 
examining  witnesses,,  passing  sentence,  and  reading 
death-warrants  against  his  own  soul  ? 
But  we  must  pass  on. 

2.  Another  element  which  contributed  to  give 
excellence  and  power  to  the  ministry  of  our  de- 
parted brother,  was  that  he  understood  the  nature 
and  responsibleness  of  his  work.  His  faith  embraced 
and  gave  reality  to  all  the  revelations  of  the  Bible. 
By  their  momentous  importance  and  thrilling  in- 
terest, his  whole  soul  had,  in  his  religious  experi- 
ence, been  moved.  The  infinite  and  eternal  God, 
his  law,  the  penalty  of  transgression,  the  remedy 
by  Christ's  atonement,  death  and  judgment,  heaven 
and  hell,  were  objects  which  his  ministry  was  to 
handle  and  unfold  ;  and  in  unfolding  them,  it  would 
bear  upon  the  salvation  or  perdition  of  undying 
souls.  He  was  to  bring  out  and  press  on  the  minds 
of  his  hearers  just  those  truths  which  the  Holy 
Spirit  had  inspired,  and  which  that  same  Spirit  was 
to  employ  to  regenerate  and  sanctify  men.  His 
was,  and  he  felt  it  to  be  so,  an  embassy  from  God 


13 

to  sinners — a  ministry  of  RECONCILIATION — a  min- 
istry of  reconciliation  to  be  effected  in  a  specific 
manner — BY  CHRIST.  With  this  he  was  most 
deeply  impressed ;  and  though  there  are  great  and 
precious  promises  made  to  the  faithful  minister,  on 
which  our  departed  brother  relied  ;  and  though  he 
drank  of  those  well-springs  of  joy  which  are  found 
along  his  path,  yet  the  nature,  responsibleness,  and 
consequences  of  his  work  weighed  upon  him  with 
great  solemnity,  and  chastened  his  natural  vivacity 
and  buoyancy  of  spirit. 

Looking  at  the  ministry  in  this  light,  he  still  felt 
impelled  to  enter  it.  *  Wo  is  me,  if  I  preach  not  the 
gospel,'  was  the  language  of  his  heart.  He  devoted 
himself  to  it,  as  his  chosen  profession.  He  loved 
all  departments  of  the  work,  and  he  determined 
faithfully  to  perform  the  duties  of  them  all — to 
God's  acceptance,  and  to  the  spiritual  growth  and 
salvation  of  his  hearers. 

As  a  public  religious  teacher,  Mr.  Crosby  was 
lucid,  scriptural,  and  rational.  There  was  a  vein 
of  common  sense  and  practicalness,  an  honesty  of 
intention,  a  directness  of  aim  at  the  intended 
object,  and  an  earnestness  in  his  endeavors  to  ac- 
complish it,  which  were  highly  characteristic ;  and 
his  sermons,  while  they  did  not  bear  the  marks  of 
great  genius,  or  learning,  or  profound  research,  yet 
showed,  every  one  of  them,  that  they  had  been  la- 
boriously thought  out  and  constructed  by  himself. 
He  was  not  confined  to  the  common  round  of  texts 
and  topics ;  nor,  having  selected  his  text,  did  he 


14 

run  into  some  thread-bare  division  of  the  subject, 
or  fill  his  discourse  from  commentaries  or  with  every- 
day thoughts,  as  common  to  his  hearers  as  the  air 
they  breathed.  In  his  preaching  there  was  an  in- 
vention and  originality  not  often  seen  in  an  equal 
degree,  giving  it  a  peculiar  freshness  and  charm, 
and  causing  him  to  be  listened  to,  through  his  whole 
ministry,  with  ever-increasing  interest  and  pleasure. 
No  vagueness  of  thought  or  phraseology,  spreading 
a  dimness  over  the  truth,  left  it  without  point  or 
aim.  Every  sermon  was  designed  to  accomplish  a 
definite  object,  and  that  was  not  to  startle  or  please, 
but  to  benefit  his  hearers. 

His  appeals  to  the  conscience  and  heart,  espe- 
cially in  his  vestry  lectures  and  meetings  for  in- 
quirers, were  adapted  to  bow  and  melt  the  hardest 
transgressors.  Here  was  seen  the  eloquence  of  con- 
viction, the  eloquence  of  faith,  the  eloquence  of  a 
love,  which,  apprehending  the  destiny  of  the  soul, 
panted  to  save  it. 

In  discussing  theological  topics,  he  showed  that 
he  had  studied  and  understood  them  ;  and  in  ex- 
pressing the  results  of  his  investigations,  he  was,  as 
in  his  manner  of  thinking,  discriminating  and  clear. 
He  loved  his  study  and  its  labors,  and  was  much 
and  profitably  employed  there.  He  preserved  un- 
impaired the  stock  of  knowledge  acquired  in  his 
preparatory  studies,  and  by  reading  and  meditation 
he  was  steadily  increasing  it ;  and  in  freshness  and 
vigor  of  thought,  and  in  ministerial  ability  and  in- 
fluence, there  was  a  constant  advance. 


15 

Neither  in  his  preaching  nor  in  his  private  inter- 
course, did  he  bring  forth  any  new  theological 
speculations,  or  favorite  theories,  or  striking  para- 
doxes. His  aim  was  to  use  the  truth  of  God  for 
doing  God's  work,  while  he  left  others  to  theorise  or 
contend  as  they  might  have  heart  or  time  for  them. 
He  had  none  for  either.  He  joined  no  party,  advo- 
cated none,  was  ranked  with  none,  drew  on  himself 
the  opposition  of  none.  He  neither  had  a  bigoted 
attachment  to  what  was  old,  nor  a  morbid  craving 
after  what  was  new.  His  sermons,  embracing  doc- 
trine, precept,  motive,  exhortation,  reproof,  warning, 
and  promise,  in  due  order  and  proportion,  and  such 
as  the  known  exigencies  of  his  hearers  demanded, 
were,  above  those  of  most  other  men,  designed  and 
adapted  to  be  understood,  to  impart  instruction,  to 
awaken  new  trains  of  thought,  to  lead  to  considera- 
tion and  feeling,  and  by  scriptural  means  to  exert 
on  the  minds  of  his  hearers  a  great  and  permanent 
influence  of  the  best  kind.  Every  hearer  of  them, 
while  he  was  sure  of  the  honesty  of  the  man,  felt 
that  some  of  his  own  wants  were  met,  and  some 
of  his  own  experience  described. 

In  Mr.  Crosby  there  was  an  enthusiasm  and  en- 
terprise, an  affability,  and  a  ready  entering  into  the 
feelings  and  circumstances  of  all,  which  gave  him  a 
peculiar  hold  on  the  younger  portion  of  his  congre- 
gation, and  in  them,  especially  in  the  young  men  of 
his  church,  he  felt  a  lively  concern.  In  adapting 
lectures  to  their  improvement  and  in  other  efforts  to 
form  in  them  a  solid  Christian  character,  to  give 


16 

them  enlarged  views  of  Christian  duty,  and  to  cul- 
tivate habits  of  Christian  action,  he  devoted  much 
thought  and  labor. 

The  peculiar  doctrines  of  the  gospel  constituted 
his  great  theme.  Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified — 
the  truths  which  emanate  from  and  cluster  around 
that  point,  he  delighted  habitually  to  dwell  upon. 
No  one  had  clearer  views  of  man's  utterly  depraved 
and  lost  condition  as  a  sinner,  or  of  the  truths  in- 
separable from  this — that  Christ's  vicarious  sacrifice 
is  the  only  meritorious  ground  of  pardon  and  ac- 
ceptance with  God,  and  that  there  is  no  holiness  or 
spiritual  life  in  man  until  it  is  imparted  to  him  by 
the  Holy  Ghost. 

His  standard  of  morals  was  truly  scriptural,  and 
was  exemplified  by  himself  and  enforced  on  his 
hearers,  without  compromise. 

As  a  Pastor,  Mr.  Crosby  was  remarkably  me- 
thodical and  efficient.  As  to  his  official  visits  to  his 
people,  as  a  shepherd  set  to  watch  over  the  flock, 
few,  if  any  of  them,  are  disposed  to  charge  him  with 
partiality  or  neglect,  or  with  want  of  fidelity  and 
appropriateness.  His  work  was  planned  out  and 
kept  before  him.  He  took  pains  to  know  the  re- 
ligious state  of  every  family,  and  almost,  may  it  be 
said,  as  far  as  the  human  mind  can  know,  the  reli- 
gious state  of  every  soul.  His  visits  were  always 
acceptable,  and  families,  even  the  children  in  them, 
love  to  expatiate  on  what  they  enjoyed  on  such 
occasions.  He  loved  to  go  to  the  chamber  of  sick- 
ness or  bereavement ;  and  often  has  he  remarked 


17 

that  there  was  no  other  place  where  he  had  so 
much  enjoyment  or  loved  so  well  to  be,  as  by  the 
bed-side  of  the  dying  Christian.  He  loved  to 
commune  with  the  spirit  that  had  done  with  earth, 
and  was  just  soaring  away  to  look  on  the  face  of 
Jesus,  and  join  in  that  more  blissful  communion 
with  saints  and  angels  in  heaven.  In  his  own 
spiritual  children,  in  such  circumstances,  he  saw  the 
object  of  his  ministry  to  them  accomplished,  and  as 
he  delivered  over  their  souls  to  the  great  Shepherd, 
his  joy  was  unspeakable. 

With  the  religious  inquirer  our  deceased  brother 
dejighted  to  meet.  He  knew  what  were  the  heart- 
rending convictions  of  sin  and  ill-desert,  the  assu- 
rance of  condemnation,  the  darkness  and  helpless- 
ness, and  the  withering  forebodings  of  such  a  state  ; 
for  he  remembered  the  hole  of  the  pit  whence  he 
was  digged.  With  great  patience  and  tenderness, 
therefore,  would  he  unfold  the  remedy  which  the 
gospel  promises.  He  would  not,  under  the  influence 
of  a  morbid  sympathy  for  the  sinner,  lose  sight  of 
his  guilt  and  labor  to  make  him  feel  comfortably  ; 
nor,  with  superficial  views  of  human  depravity  and 
the  kind  of  regeneration  needed,  would  he  leave 
the  sinner  to  suppose  that  a  mere  change  of  purpose 
or  course  of  life  was  sufficient.  His  aim  was  to  turn 
the  thoughts  of  the  inquirer  deeply  enough  into  his 
own  heart  to  make  him  feel  what  sort  of  a  regen- 
eration he  needed,  and  by  whose  agency  it  must  be 
wrought,  and  to  make  him  see  the  nature  and  ap- 
propriateness of  Christian  faith  and  repentance,  and 
3 


18 

with  all  his  heart  to  exercise  them.  His  whole  in- 
tercourse with  inquirers  and  converts  was  uncom- 
monly well  adapted  to  form  living,  intelligent,  en- 
terprising, and  steadfast  disciples. 

But  when  he  had  performed  these  plain  and  ordi- 
nary duties,  he  did  not  feel  that  he  had  done  all 
that  was  incumbent  upon  him.  He  took  enlarged 
views  of  his  vocation.  Instead  of  being  disposed 
to  contract  its  boundaries  and  free  himself  from  as 
much  care  and  labor  as  possible,  he  coveted  labor, 
and  was  ever  watchful  to  ascertain  and  perform  all 
the  duties  which  came  appropriately  within  his 
sphere  as  a  gospel  minister.  The  most  character- 
istic views  which  Mr.  Crosby  entertained  of  his 
work  remain  to  be  mentioned. 

In  such  a  world  as  this,  and  with  such  examples 
and  such  injunctions  as  the  New  Testament  con- 
tains, he  could  not  feel  that  he  or  his  people  ought 
to  live  for  themselves ;  or  that  his  own  work  or 
theirs  was  done  when  they  had  secured  their  own 
salvation.  His  Master  and  theirs  came  not  to  be 
ministered  unto  but  to  minister,  and  in  so  doing  left 
an  example  that  they  should  follow  in  his  steps. 
Instead,  therefore,  of  leaving  those  of  whom  he  had 
the  oversight  in  the  Lord  to  suppose  that  all  they 
had  to  do  was  to  accumulate  to  themselves  as  many 
Christian  privileges  as  possible,  and  leave  the  rest 
of  the  world  to  take  care  of  themselves,  his  con- 
stant endeavor  was  to  awaken  in  his  people  an  en- 
larged philanthropy  and  Christian  PUBLIC  SPIRIT — 
to  make  them  feel  that  to  render  according  to  the 


19 

benefits  received,  was  a  Christian  duty,  a  means  of 
spiritual  enjoyment,  and  of  religious  discipline  and 
perfection.  Scarcely  with  more  urgency  or  fre- 
quency did  he  beseech  men  to  become  reconciled 
to  God,  or  to  believe  on  Christ,  than  he  unfolded 
and  pressed  home  the  duty  of  living  not  unto  them- 
selves, but  unto  Him  who  died  for  them  and  rose 
again.  The  very  impulse  of  his  heart  was  to  labor, 
expend,  calculate,  and  live  for  furthering  the  cause 
of  Christ  and  human  salvation ;  and  his  constant 
endeavor  was  to  inspire  his  people  with  the  same 
desire  and  purpose  to  live  for  doing  good. 

Though  pre-eminently  interested  in  the  spread 
of  the  gospel  among  the  heathen,  Mr.  Crosby  did 
not  give  his  whole  strength  and  influence  to  that, 
while  other  kindred  objects  were  undervalued  and 
neglected.  He  was  the  friend  and  the  zealous 
advocate  before  his  people,  of  whatever  seemed  to 
him  to  be  a  practicable  scheme,  undertaken  on  the 
principles  and  in  the  spirit  of  the  New  Testament, 
and  falling  within  their  appropriate  sphere,  for  pro- 
moting the  welfare  of  mankind. 

Nor  did  he  fear  that  such  a  course  of  instruction 
to  his  people  would  have  any  injurious  influence  on 
his  own  pecuniary  interest  or  theirs.  That  the 
liberal  soul  shall  be  made  fat — that  he  that  watereth 
shall  be  watered  also  himself — and  that  it  is  more 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive,  he  fully  believed. 

Nor  did  he  fear  any  disastrous  influence  from  this 
course  on  the  spiritual  interests  of  his  people,  even 
if  it  was  a  time  of  religious  revival.  To  convince 


20 

men  of  sin  and  bring  them  to  repentance  for  neglect 
of  such  duties  as  these,  or  to  bring  them  to  right 
feelings,  purposes,  and  conduct  here,  was,  in  his 
view,  as  valuable  as  to  produce  the  like  results  on 
any  other  point.  In  his  opinion  the  calls  of  this 
nature,  which  could  properly  be  brought  before  a 
congregation  on  the  Sabbath,  may  be  so  presented 
as  not  unfavorably  to  interfere  with  the  spirit  or 
progress  of  a  religious  revival. 

Nor  did  he  limit  his  instructions  and  exhortations 
on  these  subjects  to  those  occasions  when  the  con- 
tributions of  his  people  were  to  be  called  for,  and 
thus  leave  them  to  be  ever  associated  in  their  minds 
with  begging  and  giving.  The  sinful  and  wretched 
condition  of  this  world  —  almost  the  whole  race 
moving  on,  by  whole  generations,  like  one  broad 
river,  down  to  death  and  to  hell, — God's  plan  for 
saving  it — the  Scripture  commands  and  promises 
on  this  point — the  openings  and  calls — the  trium- 
phant progress  of  the  gospel  in  many  places — the 
powerful  motives  to  prayer  and  unwearied  effort — 
the  predicted  and  hastening  subjection  of  all  to 
Christ, — were  great  themes  which  dilated  his  heart, 
and  on  which  he  delighted  often  to  commune  with 
his  people. 

While  he  believed  that,  in  the  present  state  of 
things,  agents  in  behalf  of  benevolent  objects  can- 
not well  be  dispensed  with,  and  therefore  admitted 
them  freely  to  his  pulpit,  and  did  what  he  could  to 
render  a  very  unpleasant  kind  of  labor  easy  and 
successful,  he  was  not  willing  to  lose  to  himself, 


21 

and  give  to  them,  all  the  interest  which  communi- 
cating fresh  intelligence  relative  to  the  great  reli- 
gious enterprizes  of  the  day  awakened  among  his 
people.  The  advantage  of  that  he  determined  to 
secure  to  himself,  to  give  permanent  effect  to  his 
ministry  ;  and  by  keeping  them  early  and  thoroughly 
informed  on  all  these  subjects,  he  effectually  attain- 
ed his  end.  This  he  could  not  do  without  carefully 
and  correctly  furnishing  his  own  mind,  which  he 
did  methodically,  as  a  duty  and  a  means  of  useful- 
ness, from  the  very  beginning  of  his  ministry.  I 
have  not  known  the  man,  who,  on  all  the  religious 
enterprizes  of  the  day,  possessed  equally  extensive 
and  accurate  information, — and  this  treasured  up, 
almost  exclusively,  from  the  common  publications  of 
the  day,  to  which  nearly  all  in  the  ministry  had 
access  as  readily  and  extensively  as  he. 

Nor  did  he  fear  that  he  should  alienate  his  people 
from  him  or  introduce  divisions  among  them  by 
calling  for  their  prayers  and  their  co-operation  in 
these  great  undertakings.  On  the  contrary,  he 
believed  that  nothing  would  attach  them  more 
strongly  to  himself,  or  exert  a  more  harmonizing 
influence  among  themselves,  than  bringing  them  to 
think,  and  sympathize,  and  labor  together,  as 
Christ's  servants,  for  the  salvation  of  the  world. 
What  room  or  heart  for  strifes  under  such  influ- 
ences ? — and  where,  among  a  people  thus  led  on 
and  thus  laboring,  were  they  ever  known  ? 

In  this  connection  his  manner  of  conducting  the 
monthly  concert  for  prayer  must  not  be  unnoticed. 


22 

The  purpose  and  the  plan  to  render  that  an  in- 
teresting meeting,  the  year  round,  to  all  classes  of 
persons,  by  the  introduction  of  systematized  and 
thoroughly  prepared  information,  on  almost  all  sub- 
jects relating  to  the  condition  and  wants  of  the 
world  and  the  advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom, 
with  maps  and  other  illustrations,  was,  so  far  as  I 
am  informed,  sixteen  years  ago,  unprecedented,  and 
was  perfectly  original  with  our  deceased  brother. 
He  began  the  work  in  a  retired  country  parish,  with 
no  library,  or  bookseller's  shop,  or  reading-room 
within  his  reach,  and  with  no  other  resources,  more 
than  almost  any  country  minister  may  command. 
He  had  at  the  same  time  the  concerns  of  an  ex- 
tended and  numerous  parish  on  his  hands,  and  that 
too  at  the  very  beginning  of  his  ministry.  But  his 
heart  was  in  the  work  ;  and  by  system  in  his  peri- 
odical reading  during  the  month,  with  the  devotion 
of  the  whole  of  the  first  Monday  to  special  pre- 
paration for  it,  he  raised  the  concert,  from  a  mere 
handful  of  church  members,  to  be  the  largest  and 
most  interesting  week-day  meeting  which  he  held. 
The  same  plan,  with  the  same  results,  he  carried 
out  after  his  removal  to  this  place,  till  the  close  of 
his  public  ministry. 

His  public  spirited  labors  in  other  ways,  in  behalf 
of  various  religious  enterprizes,  were  not  few  or  of 
little  value.  But  time  will  not  permit  them  to  be 
dwelt  upon.  And  yet  he  had  no  more  time,  no 
more  strength,  no  greater  resources,  and  no  fewer 
cares  and  interruptions  than  other  men.  He  per- 


23 

formed  a  work,  in  this  respect,  in  those  spheres  of 
labor  where  the  providence  of  God  placed  him, 
which,  if  performed  by  all  other  pastors,  according 
to  their  ability,  in  their  several  spheres,  would  su- 
persede in  a  day  those  numerous,  expensive,  and 
oftentimes  conflicting  and  annoying  agencies,  which 
religious  enterprize  has  introduced,  and  substitute  in 
their  place  a  system  of  operations,  without  expense, 
and  altogether  more  natural,  more  satisfactory,  and 
more  efficient. 

It  is  not  necessarily  to  be  inferred  that  the  min- 
ister should  ADD  these  to  his  other  labors  ;  but  it  is 
worthy  of  consideration  whether  he  may  not  in- 
corporate these  with  them — making  these  a  part  of 
them,  to  the  improvement  of  his  own  spiritual  state 
and  character, — so  as  to  render  his  influence  as  a 
minister  more  extensive,  powerful,  and  salutary, — 
and  so  as  most  to  benefit  his  own  people,  and  ad- 
vance the  kingdom  of  Christ  generally. 

One  more  remark  relative  to  Mr.  Crosby  as  a 
pastor  must  be  made.  He  well  understood  how  to 
be  an  example  to  the  flock.  He  was  not  perfect ; 
but  in  his  social,  Christian,  and  ministerial  character 
and  deportment,  how  little  there  was  which  could 
be  marked  out  as  censurable !  There  were  no 
eccentricities — no  outbursts  of  passion — no  unhappy 
developments  of  unchristian  speeches  or  conduct, 
made  from  time  to  time  to  distract  and  alienate  his 
people.  There  was  in  him  neither  prodigality  nor 
penuriousness — neither  frivolity  nor  moroseness — 
neither  compromise  with  the  world  nor  seclusion 


24 

from  it — neither  forwardness  nor  timidity, — to  call 
forth  disparaging  remarks.  Neither  with  his  people, 
nor  with  others,  had  he  any  collisions  or  strifes  to 
detract  from  his  influence  and  bring  reproach.  A 
good  name  or  an  influence  once  acquired,  he  never 
lost  by  indiscretions,  foibles,  or  negligence.  By  his 
doctrine  and  his  life  he  taught  his  people  how  to 
live ;  by  the  spiritual  consolations  which  he  admin- 
istered to  the  afflicted,  and  by  his  own  example  too, 
he  taught  them  how  to  bear  the  sorrows  and  be- 
reavements of  life  ;  and  now,  by  closing  his  days 
among  you,  as  well  as  by  his  former  counsels  to  the 
dying,  he  has  taught  you  how  to  die.  May  he  not 
say,  as  he  goes  to  his  rest,  I  HAVE  FINISHED  THE 

WORK    WHICH    THOU    GAVEST    ME    TO    DO  ! 

3.  The  spirit  with  which  our  deceased  brother 
entered  on  and  prosecuted  his  work,  demands  a  few 
remarks. 

The  characteristic,  controlling  feeling  of  his  mind 
was  that  he  was  a  STEWARD  ;  that  he  was  to  live 
and  die  for  Christ  and  the  church — Christ's  servant 
to  do  his  work  in  the  church.  He  loved  intellectual 
pursuits  and  he  loved  social  intercourse :  but  as  he 
did  not  live  for  himself,  his  indulgence  in  these  must 
be  regulated  by  the  demands  of  the  service  he  had 
entered  upon.  He  loved  his  family,  and  much  did 
he  care  for  and  enjoy  them  :  but  he  did  not  live 
for  his  family.  He  took  a  deep  interest  in  public 
affairs  and  carefully  observed  passing  events,  but  he 
was  not  to  be  a  mere  spectator,  or  to  be  absorbed 


25 

in  the  agitations  of  such  a  world  as  this.  The  work 
of  Christ  in  the  gospel  ministry  was  before  him. 
To  that  he  was  heartily  devoted. 

While  no  man  more  fully  believed  that  any  and 
all  means  are  powerless  to  convert  and  save  the 
soul,  until  rendered  effectual  by  the  Spirit  of  God, 
none  saw  more  clearly  than  our  deceased  brother, 
the  importance  of  the  unintermitted  and  laborious 
use  of  means,  the  most  powerful  and  best  adapted, 
for  accomplishing  this  end.  On  these  fundamental 
principles  he  ever  acted.  With  him  the  ministry 
was  not  a  merely  professional  business,  which  he 
had  adopted  as  best  fitted  to  afford  him  an  easy  and 
comfortable  livelihood,  and  give  him  a  place  in  re- 
spectable society.  Nor  was  it  a  vocation  which  he 
had  chosen,  because,  by  connecting  him  with  a 
church  and  congregation  as  their  spiritual  instructor 
and  guide,  it  would  give  him  conspicuousness  and 
influence,  and  thus  gratify  a  desire  for  pre-eminence. 
To  such  feelings  he  seemed,  in  an  uncommon  de- 
gree, to  be  a  stranger. 

He  well  understood  what  were  his  obligations 
and  privileges  as  a  preacher  and  pastor,  and  what 
were  those  of  his  people  ;  and  while  he  faithfully 
performed  his  own  duties,  and  affectionately  un- 
folded and  pressed  theirs  upon  them,  of  his  rights  he 
seldom,  if  ever,  had  inclination  or  cause  to  speak. 
From  office  or  prerogative  he  asked  nothing  and  ex- 
pected nothing.  He  desired  not  to  be  clothed  with 
any  official  dignity,  or  to  be  defended  with  any  official 
armor.  He  made  no  demand  for  respect,  or  sub- 
4 


26 

mission  to  his  authority,  or  deference  to  his  mea- 
sures, because  of  his  station  or  office.  Of  deference, 
or  respect,  or  influence  of  any  kind,  he  neither 
expected  or  desired  any  more  than  he  should  fairly 
earn  a  title  to  by  his  character  and  his  faithful 
public-spirited  labors.  Yet  he  did  exert  an  influence 
over  his  own  people,  and  a  respect  and  deference 
were  most  cheerfully  accorded  to  him  by  them, 
beyond  what  mere  title,  or  office,  or  arrogant  pre- 
tension and  claim  ever  won. 

Nor  was  it  his  aim  to  be  just  enough  of  a  Christian 
and  a  minister,  to  hold  a  fair  standing  with  his  peo- 
ple and  his  brethren  ;  and  at  the  same  time  secure 
to  himself  a  quiet,  easy,  genteel  life.  All  such  cal- 
culation filled  him  with  unutterable  grief  and  disgust. 
He  sought  something  higher  and  beyond.  To  him 
the  ministry  was  a  WORK — literally  a  SERVICE — a 
MINISTRATION  to  others  i  And  his  great  inquiry  was, 
How  shall  I  acquit  myself  to  Christ  ?  How  save 
the  souls  of  my  people  ?  Their  good  opinion  he 
highly  valued,  as  a  rational  gratification  and  a  means 
of  augmented  influence  ;  but  he  would  purchase  it 
with  no  other  price  than  that  of  faithfulness  as  a 
watchman  for  their  souls. 

In  the  prosecution  of  his  work  Mr.  Crosby  mani- 
fested uncommon  judgment  and  self-knowledge  in 
correctly  estimating  his  own  powers  and  in  never 
undertaking  any  thing  that  was  above  them  or  out 
of  their  line.  He  knew  well  what  to  attempt,  and 
what  the  circumstances  in  which  he  was  placed 
called  for.  Nor  did  he  display  less  wisdom  in  select- 


27 

ing  appropriate  means  for  accomplishing  his  ends. 
Here  were  seen  oftentimes  great  ingenuity  and  in- 
ventiveness. His  insight  into  human  nature  and 
his  sagacity  almost  invariably  enabled  him  to  fore- 
see how  his  plans  and  measures  would  strike  those 
on  whom  they  were  designed  to  bear,  and  to  pre- 
dict the  result.  He  knew  how  to  employ  himself  to 
good  effect,  both  in  his  study  and  in  his  more  active 
labors.  Without  any  feature  of  his  character  being 
so  prominent  as  to  arrest  special  attention,  there 
was  in  him  a  combination  and  right  adjustment  of 
good  qualities,  a  symmetry  and  balance  of  mind,  a 
wise  direction  and  unreserved  devotedness  of  his 
powers — an  economy  of  them — a  knowing  how  to 
make  the  most  of  himself,  and  to  turn  all  to  the 
best  account,  not  often  seen. 

Nor  was  he  less  patient  under  hard  and  pro- 
tracted labor.  He  was  willing  to  wear  out ;  and 
when  remonstrated  with  for  tasking  himself  so 
much,  he  would,  with  a  tone  and  an  expression  of 
countenance  that  spoke  his  heart,  bring  to  view  one 
pressing  call  after  another,  where  the  spiritual  wel- 
fare of  his  people  was  concerned,  and  say,  I  love 
this  work  ;  souls  are  perishing.  How  can  I  desist  ? 
Still,  if  in  such  a  work  it  is  proper  to  say  that  any 
labors  are  excessive,  Mr.  Crosby  cannot,  perhaps, 
be  wholly  cleared  from  the  charge  of  imprudent 
disregard  of  health  and  life.  The  fault,  however, 
if  fault  there  was,  was  so  much  like  an  excellence, 
that  they  who  possess  most  of  their  Master's  spirit 
are  most  exposed  to  it,  and  will  therefore  best 


28 

understand  its  origin  and  be  least  severe  in  their 
censures.  With  a  little  more  self-control  under 
emergencies,  he  might,  probably,  each  year  of  his 
ministry,  have  accomplished  as  much  as  he  did,  and 
yet  have  preserved  his  health  unimpaired. 

Mr.  Crosby  was  devoted  to  the  ministry  among 
his  own  people.  All  his  powers  were  concentrated 
on  that.  It  absorbed  his  thought  and  feeling  by 
day,  and  often  held  him  waking  by  night.  He  lived 
for  his  people.  They  were  his  joy  and  crown.  In 
his  study,  in  his  pulpit,  and  in  his  walks  abroad,  their 
spiritual  interests  were  before  him.  And  they  saw 
that  he  lived  for  them  and  in  them ;  and  that  there 
was  a  concentration  of  his  powers  and  labors  upon 
them,  and  a  consecration  of  himself  to  them,  which 
could  not  be  mistaken.  This  softened  and  im- 
pressed their  minds,  and  enabled  him  to  mould  their 
characters,  and,  as  it  were,  to  stamp  the  image  of 
his  own  on  them,  so  as  never  to  be  effaced.  This 
gave  him  his  power  over  them.  It  was  the  single- 
ness and  honesty  of  his  character  and  course  as 
their  spiritual  shepherd. 

Nor  was  this  at  all  inconsistent  with  his  interest 
and  labors  in  behalf  of  religious  and  benevolent 
enterprises.  What  he  did  for  these  he  did  through 
his  people,  leading  them  or  associated  with  them. 
He  did  it  all  as  their  minister — as  what  was  in- 
volved in  and  essential  to  his  carrying  out  and  com- 
pleting his  ministry  among  them — as  the  officer  of 
this  portion  of  the  Lord's  host,  to  train  them,  to 
lead  them  on  to  the  work  or  the  conflict  or  the  vie- 


29 

tory.  But  in  his  case  the  minister  was  never  lost 
sight  of  in  the  agent  or  the  advocate  ;  nor,  on  the 
other  hand,  was  the  range  of  that  benevolence 
which  should  embrace  the  world,  ever  circumscribed 
by  the  limits  of  a  single  congregation. 

And  what  must  be  the  results  of  such  a  ministry  ? 

Of  course  the  united  love  and  respect  of  his  peo- 
ple. At  Conway,  where  he  spent  nearly  six  years 
of  his  ministry,  and  where  he  was  called  to  his  work 
with  great  unanimity,  there  was  a  growing  interest 
in  his  preaching  and  pastoral  labors,  and  a  steady 
advance  in  the  religious  and  missionary  feeling  of 
the  people  till  his  removal.  The  impressions  made, 
especially  on  the  young,  by  his  sermons,  his  concert 
lectures,  and  his  family  visits,  are  still  fresh  in  their 
most  affectionate  and  respectful  recollections,  and 
can  never  be  forgotten.  The  transfer  of  his  services 
to  another  field  was  deeply  regretted  by  them.  To 
his  labors  in  the  Winthrop  Church  he  came  with 
the  unanimous  vote  of  both  church  and  proprietors  ; 
and  those  best  informed  have  confidently  expressed 
the  opinion,  that,  had  the  question  of  his  retaining 
his  station  been  agitated  at  any  time  during  the 
nearly  nine  years  of  his  ministry  here,  he  would 
have  had  a  similar  vote ;  and  that,  at  the  time  when 
his  pastoral  relation  to  this  church  was  dissolved, 
there  was  not  a  member  of  this  whole  congregation, 
male  or  female,  adult  or  child,  who  would  not,  had  his 
health  been  sound,  have  preferred  him  to  any  other 
minister.  Such  an  instance  of  unanimity,  so  entire 


30 

and  so  long  continued,  is  a  rare  thing  in  these  days. 
It  can  be  purchased  in  other  instances  by  those, 
and  probably  those  only,  who  will  pay  for  it  a  simi- 
lar price.  Re-invigorate  that  body,  bring  back,  if 
we  may,  that  Pauline  spirit  that  used  to  inhabit  it. 
Let  that  heart  beat,  that  mind  devise,  that  tongue 
speak,  and  those  hands  work  again  ;  and  place  that 
man,  new  set  up,  in  any  parish  in  New  England, 
and  see  if  all  who  approve  the  truth  will  not  unite 
to  hear,  love,  and  honor  him. 

Here  was  where  Mr.  Crosby's  greatness  lay ;  and 
with  this  his  ministry  was  adapted  to  exert  a  wide 
and  powerful  influence  in  forming  and  improving 
character.  The  man  who  loves  his  work  so  much — 
has  such  an  appetite  for  it — is  susceptible  of  so  deep 
and  abiding  an  enthusiasm  in  it,  as  to  make  it  the 
object  of  his  most  constant  and  strongest  thought 
and  feeling,  can  hardly  fail  to  be  great  in  that 
thing.  A  susceptibility  of  feeling  such  a  control- 
ling interest  in  any  department  of  labor  or  study, — 
which  in  a  minister  is  the  same  thing  as  tenderness 
of  heart  and  a  mind  alive  to  spiritual  things, — is,  so 
far  as  success  in  that  is  concerned,  more  than  half  of 
genius, — if  not  so  brilliant  as  what  is  commonly 
denominated  so,  it  is  more  steady  and  safe,  and 
more  enduring  in  its  results.  Upon  those  who  fall 
within  the  appropriate  influence  of  such  a  mind,  a 
power  will  be  felt — silent,  unostentatious,  and  inof- 
fensive— but  great  and  salutary.  Such  was  the  power 
exerted  by  our  departed  brother,  not  only  over  the 
churches  where  his  labors  were  bestowed,  but  on 


31 

the  community  where  he  resided,  with  whom  he  was 
not  brought  into  so  close  contact ; — an  influence 
the  fruits  of  which  will  not  soon  cease  to  be  felt, 
though  it  may  not  be  easily  demonstrated  or  mea- 
sured. This  influence  was  greatest  upon  the  young. 
But  men  of  every  class,  even  those  who  disliked 
his  religious  doctrines,  saw  in  him  an  honest  and 
enterprising  laboriousness,  a  frank,  honorable,  and 
judicious  course  of  action,  a  freedom  from  extrava- 
gant, ill-timed,  or  ill-judged  speculations  and  mea- 
sures, which  led  them  to  confide  in  him  and  respect 
him  ;  and  which  prepared  their  minds  to  listen  with 
candor,  as  many  of  them  often  did,  while  he  un- 
folded, at  his  occasional  lectures,  the  great  doctrines 
and  duties  of  the  gospel. 

There  was  also  the  direct  and  common  result  of 
a  faithful  ministry — that  of  religious  revival  and 
spiritual  growth  in  the  churches  where  he  labored. 
During  his  residence  in  Conway,  two  seasons  of  re- 
ligious revival  were  enjoyed,  and  132  persons  were 
added  to  the  church  on  profession.  The  church  in 
this  place  was  favored  with  four  periods  of  refresh- 
ing from  the  presence  of  the  Lord  during  his  min- 
istry, as  the  fruits  of  which  151  persons  joined  it 
by  profession,  and  the  church  grew  from  44  to  267 
members  ;  and  the  congregation,  of  which  he  took 
the  charge  in  its  infancy,  rose  from  a  few  families 
to  fill  these  walls. 

But  we  must  desist  from  noticing  more  particu- 
larly the  labors  of  our  departed  brother. 


32 

Some  of  the  facts  in  his  personal  history  have 
been  given.  A  few  others  only  will  be  added. 
Mr.  Crosby  was  born  of  highly  respectable  parents 
in  Hampden,  Penobscot  county,  in  the  State  of 
Maine,  October,  1799.  There  he  had  his  early 
education,  and  acquired  the  rudiments  of  his  clas- 
sical knowledge  ;  and  from  thence  he  joined  Yale 
College  in  the  autumn  of  1819.  After  completing 
the  usual  term  of  study,  he  graduated  there  and 
entered  Andover  Theological  Seminary  in  the  au- 
tumn of  the  year  1823.  Immediately  on  leaving 
the  Seminary  he  commenced  preaching  in  Conway 
in  this  State,  and  was  ordained  there  in  January, 
1827.  The  fatigue  and  exposure  incident  to  so 
extended  a  parish,  were  too  exhausting  to  his 
strength,  and  he  felt  compelled,  reluctantly  to  him- 
self and  them,  to  leave  that  people  in  July,  1833, 
and  was  installed  over  the  Winthrop  church,  as  its 
first  pastor,  in  the  following  month.  Here  he  re- 
mained, with  varying  health,  till  about  a  year  ago, 
when  he  was  compelled,  in  accordance  with  the  ad- 
vice of  his  physician,  to  relinquish  his  pulpit  labors. 
But  neither  himself,  nor  his  friends,  nor  his  medical 
advisers  supposed  that  he  might  not,  after  a  little 
recruiting,  enjoy  good  health,  and  perform,  in  another 
sphere,  the  labors  of  a  sound  man.  When  he  sub- 
sequently learned  that  his  labors  were  called  for  in 
the  direct  promotion  of  the  foreign  missionary  work, 
in  which  he  had  long  been  peculiarly  interested,  he 
regarded  such  an  opening  as,  of  all  others,  the  most 
desirable  ;  and  he  at  once  entered  on  the  editorial 


33 

labors  at  the  Missionary  House,  with  a  zest  and  an 
amount  of  information,  which  few  could  bring.  But 
he  was  still  tasking  his  powers  too  hardly ;  and 
after  laboring  just  long  enough  to  confirm  the  high 
hopes  previously  entertained  of  his  great  usefulness, 
and  teach  his  associates  how  much  to  value  and 
love  him  as  a  fellow-laborer,  he  was,  about  the 
middle  of  December  last,  obliged  to  withdraw,  and 
to  participate  in  their  counsels  and  labors  no  more. 
When  attacked  with  his  last  illness,  in  December, 
he  was  confident  from  the  first,  that  he  should  not 
recover.  In  the  taking  down  of  this  house  of  clay 
he  anticipated  a  long  and  painful  sickness  and  a  dis- 
tressing death,  and  expressed  some  fear  that  he 
might  be  left  to  impatience  and  complaint.  But  he 
added  that  he  would  not  be  anxious,  for  he  was  sure 
that  God  would  do  all  things  well.  Aside  from  the 
circumstances  just  adverted  to,  death  had  no  terrors 
to  him.  He  spoke  of  it  with  the  greatest  familiarity 
and  composure  to  his  friends  and  his  physician ;  and 
he  enjoined  it  upon  the  latter  to  inform  him  frankly, 
as  soon  as  any  decisive  indications  of  the  fatal 
nature  of  his  disease  should  be  developed.  One 
day  he  said  to  a  friend  who  visited  him,  '  I  have 
been  examining  myself  to  learn  if  I  have  any  will 
of  my  own  respecting  the  result  of  this  sickness, 
and  I  find  that  if  it  were  left  with  me,  I  should,  of 
choice,  with  the  highest  pleasure,  refer  it  back  to 
God  to  do  just  as  he  sees  best.  I  have  examined 
the  point  repeatedly  and  I  am  sure  I  am  not  mis- 
5 


34 

taken.'  When  his  physician  informed  him  that  he 
probably  could  not  recover,  he  said  to  a  friend  the 
next  day,  '  I  feel  much  better  than  yesterday  :  then 
I  was  in  suspense  as  to  what  the  Lord  would  do 
with  me  :  now  I  understand  that  I  am  soon  to  die, 
and  I  am  relieved  from  all  uncertainty.'  On  another 
occasion  he  said,  l  There  is  nothing  in  me,  and  I 
have  done  nothing  which  I  can  offer  as  a  ground  of 
acceptance  with  God.  All  my  hope  is  in  Christ.' 
That  he  had  exercised  the  faith  required  in  the 
gospel  he  thought  he  could  not  doubt :  he  had  had 
so  many  manifestations  of  God's  love  to  him,  and 
was  so  fully  conscious  of  taking  delight  in  God  and 
in  his  service,  that  it  seemed  to  him  there  could  be 
no  mistake  :  he  could  rest  on  Christ  firmly  and 
quietly. 

He  spoke  with  deep  emotion  of  God's  providen- 
tial goodness  to  him  all  his  life.  He  was  carried, 
he  said,  by  he  knew  not  what  impulse,  contrary  to 
the  wish  and  advice  of  all  his  friends,  to  Yale 
College  ;  and  it  so  happened  that  that  was  the  only 
college  in  New  England,  in  which  there  was  a  re- 
vival of  religion  during  the  four  years  of  his  college 
life.  He  mentioned  the  providential  kindness  man- 
ifested to  him  in  his  family  relations  and  the  circle 
of  friends  which  he  had  enjoyed  ;  in  permitting  him 
to  labor  so  happily  and,  as  he  hoped,  usefully,  in 
the  two  churches  to  which  he  had  sustained  the 
pastoral  relation ;  in  preserving  this  church  from 
divisions  since  he  had  been  removed  from  them, 


35 

and  in  causing  them  to  unite  so  perfectly  in  another 
pastor,  and  such  a  successor  as  he  himself  would 
have  chosen.  He  mentioned  the  kindness  of  friends 
in  his  sickness ;  the  provision  made  for  his  son — just 
what  he  desired ;  the  comfort  of  body  and  mind 
which  he  enjoyed,  so  different  from  what  he  feared. 
4  Here  I  am,'  said  he,  *  with  no  pain,  no  anxiety, 
all  my  wants  met,  just  waiting  God's  time  to  die.' 

His  thoughts  were,  of  course,  much  turned  to- 
wards that  heaven  which  was  opening  before  him, 
and  the  faith  which  is  the  substance  of  things  hoped 
for  and  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen,  was  strik- 
ingly exemplified  by  him ; — not  in  producing  rap- 
tures or  ecstatic  visions  of  the  imagination ;  but  in 
giving  him  intelligent  and  realizing  views  and  con- 
fident anticipations  of  the  things  beyond  the  vail. 
They  were  to  him  as  real,  as  substantial,  as  were  the 
objects  around  him.  '  In  looking  forward  to  heaven,' 
said  he,  '  I  can  conceive  of  nothing  better  than 
serving  God  perfectly  and  forever.'  How  well  his 
life  had  evinced  the  spirit  and  made  the  preparation 
for  such  a  heaven  ! 

When  informed,  by  his  physician,  of  the  circum- 
stances attending  the  recent  sudden  death  of  an 
aged  and  eminent  servant  of  God,  our  departed 
brother  remarked  that  such  a  death  was  what  he 
would  choose  for  himself  as  most  desirable  ;  and 
in  less  than  one  fortnight,  he  closed  his  life  in  a 
manner  even  more  sudden  and  apparently  less  dis- 
tressing. 


36 

Thus  our  brother  passed  away.  And  why  linger 
around  that  body  which  he  has  left?  He  is  not 
there.  And  why  are  our  thoughts  all  directed  along 
the  road  which  leads  to  the  grave  where  that  body 
shall  moulder  to  dust  ?  Recall  those  grovelling  and 
earthly  emotions.  Turn  them  toward  where  our 
brother  now  is.  Send  them  back  to  that  chamber 
which  we  have  called  the  chamber  of  death,  but 
which  henceforth  shall  be  called  the  chamber  of 
life.  Thence  give  them  a  new  direction.  Did  not 
a  living  spirit  there  break  away  from  its  frail  and 
dilapidated  prison,  from  which  for  years  it  had  been 
struggling  to  be  free  ;  and  thence,  loosed  from  all  its 
earthly  fastenings  and  entanglements,  soar  away  to 
a  world  where  there  is  a  life  with  no  burdens,  no 
sorrows,  no  diseases,  no  deaths  ?  Death !  was  it  ? — 
The  beginning  of  life  rather  !  There 

They  live  I  they  greatly  live,  a  life  on  earth 
Unkiiulled,  unconceived. 

In  addressing  a  word  to  the  bereaved  Partner  and 
Family  of  our  deceased  brother,  what  shall  I  say ; 
or  whence  shall  I  bring  consolation  ?  Dear  Madam, 
it  is  not  in  me  :  nor  is  there  any  earthly  support  or 
consideration  which  can  calm  that  agitated  breast 
and  heal  that  bleeding  heart.  But,  should  I  ask 
you,  as  the  prophet  of  the  Lord  inquired  of  another, 
in  circumstances  not  wholly  dissimilar,  Is  it  well 
with  thee  ? — is  it  well  with  thy  husband  ? — is  it 
well  with  thy  children  ?  Could  you  not  reply,  It 


37 

is  well.  The  Lord  hath  done  all  things  well.  Half 
jour  family  in  heaven — and  half  on  earth  !  The 
departed  have  gone  a  little  earlier — the  remainder 
are  preparing  to  follow.  How  short,  how  narrow 
the  separation  ! — 

ONE  FAMILY,  we  dwell  in  Him, 

One  church,  above,  beneath  ; 
Though  now  divided  by  the  stream — 

The  narrow  stream  of  death. 
Ev'n  now  to  their  eternal  home 

Some  happy  spirits  fly  ; 
And  we  are  to  the  margin  come, 

And  soon  expect  to  die  ! 

You  can  approach  the  same  Father  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  to  whose  more  glorious  presence  your 
husband  is  now  admitted,  and  '  of  whom  the  WHOLE 
FAMILY  in  heaven  and  on  earth  is  named.'  You 
have  the  same  compassionate  Saviour — the  same 
indwelling  Spirit.  You  will  often  worship  together 
before  the  same  throne  ;  and  may  the  God  whom 
the  husband  and  father  served,  according  to  the 
riches  of  his  grace,  strengthen  you  with  might  by 
his  Spirit,  and  be  the  father  of  the  fatherless  and 
the  God  and  Judge  of  the  widow ! 

Do  this  Church  and  Congregation  hear  their  late 
Pastor,  as  he  starts  on  his  flight  towards  heaven, 
say,  I  have  finished  the  work  which  thou  gavest  me 
to  do  ?  Finished  !  That  faithful  ministry  finished  ! 
What !  is  that  preacher  no  more  to  speak  from  this 
pulpit !  that  pastor  no  more  to  enter  your  houses ! 


38 

Will  he  no  more  instruct  ?  no  more  warn  ?  no  more 
invite  ?  Is  he  no  more  to  counsel  ?  no  more  to 
comfort  ?  no  more  to  pray  ?  no  more  to  guide  to 
heaven  ? — THAT  MINISTRY  FINISHED  !  And  what  is 
the  state  of  your  souls  ?  Sinner, — is  that  faithful 
and  laborious  ministry  sealed  up,  and  thy  soul  not 
saved  ?  Christian,  hast  thou  grown  in  knowledge, 
in  grace,  in  holy  activity  in  God's  service,  as  such 
teaching,  such  exhortation,  such  example  as  have 
been  granted  thee,  should  have  made  thee  ?  If 
called  to  thy  account  as  suddenly,  couldst  thou  say 
as  truly,  I  have  finished  the  work  which  thou  gavest 
me  to  do  ? 

Fellow  Servants  in  the  Christian  Ministry,  this  is 
our  day  for  working.  The  day  of  account  and  of 
rest  is  hastening  on.  How  near  it  may  be  we  know 
not.  One  of  our  number  has  just  gone.  Are  we 
such  minute  men,  that,  if  our  Master  should  draw 
away  the  curtain  right  at  our  side,  we  could  each 
say  for  himself,  as  we  stepped  across  the  threshold 
of  eternity,  I  have  finished  the  work  which  thou 
gavest  me  to  do  ?  Have  we  done  for  our  own 
souls — have  we  done  in  those  spheres  of  labor  where 
our  Lord  has  placed  us — have  we  done  for  this  mis- 
erable world,  all  which  it  was  incumbent  on  us  to 
do  ?  Alas,  for  our  long  arrears  of  service  unper- 
formed !  For  bringing  up  these  no  provision  is 
made  in  the  terms  of  that  fealty  which  binds  us  to 
our  Heavenly  Master.  Each  day  comes  filled  with 


39 

its  own  labors — each  day  demands  for  itself  the  whole 
man.  Let,  then,  DO  WITH  THY  MIGHT  —  be  our 
watchword.  Each  of  us  must  soon  say  with  Paul, 
'  The  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand.'  At  that 
crisis  may  we  each  be  able  also  to  say  with  him, 
truly  and  triumphantly,  '  I  have  fought  a  good  fight, 
I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith. 
Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  right- 
ousness.' 


j 


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